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Phillies South Texas Area Scout Will Brunson Passes Away at 49

By Matt Rappa

10 Mar 1998: Pitcher Will Brunson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a spring training game against the Florida Marlins at the Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers won the game, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport
10 Mar 1998: Pitcher Will Brunson of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action during a spring training game against the Florida Marlins at the Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida. The Dodgers won the game, 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Stockman /Allsport /
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The Phillies lost a member of their family this past weekend, South Texas Area Scout and former southpaw major league reliever, Will Brunson.

Phillies South Texas Area scout, Will Brunson, suddenly passed away on Saturday at the age 49.

Brunson’s death came following a heart attack he suffered while hiking in Big Bend National Park with his friends. Will’s brother, John, said that the Brunson family has received “such an outpouring of love and support at the news of Will’s passing,” and that Will left a “lasting impression on everyone he met.”

Fellow Phillies area scout Justin Morgenstern recently said on Twitter that Will and him were hired around the same time back in 2016, and that he was “immediately drawn to him as a friend.” Morgenstern adds:

"“Will was someone who loved life, loved baseball. and loved making people laugh. I was always envious of Will because he had a Major League Baseball career, a loving family at home, worked in the oil industry, and then returned to baseball to scout on his own accord. Will took advantage of his 49 years. A life well lived, taken far too soon. Will’s family now needs are help and his brother created a Go Fund Me page to assist Will’s wife and kids with future expenses. I wanted to share the opportunity to help with you all. Rest In Peace, Will. Love you big man.”"

Brunson, a former major league player, had served as a Phillies scout since October 2016. In between his baseball stints, Brunson worked in car sales and as a salesman in the oil industry.

The Irvin, Texas, native played in parts of two seasons in the majors in 1998 and 1999 for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers as a southpaw reliever. In 27 combined games, he went 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA. Brunson was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 21st round of the 1992 amateur draft out of Texas State University.

Growing up, Brunson played baseball for Eastfield Juco and Southwest Texas State (Texas State), where he met his wife, Dana.  In addition to the Reds (minors), Dodgers and Tigers, Brunson also played in minor-league action for the A’s (2000) and Angels (2001).

The Brunson family has created a GoFundMe page to assist them with expenses following the tragic and expected loss of Will.

Brunson resided in New Braunfels, Texas, with his wife and two children.

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